Marc Cooper scored twice for Cleethorpes
Cleethorpes Town tore Tadcaster Albion apart in the first half of the Toolstation NCEL League Cup semi-finals and duly left West Yorkshire with a 4-1 victory.
Marcus Newell’s men will play Handsworth Parramore in the final on the May Bank Holiday Monday at Staveley Miners Welfare.
Tadcaster’s defence could not cope with Cleethorpe’s deadly duo Brody Robertson and Marc Cooper as one of the their remaining two chances of winning silverware slipped away.
The first half display was arguably one of Tadcaster’s worst performances of the season as Cleethorpes could have scored six or seven times.
They got four and were out of sight by the interval.
Every-time they ventured forward, Cleethorpes looked to get in behind Tadcaster’s defence. It worked like a treat.
Robertson lifted the ball over the over-rushing Tom Morgan to put Cleethorpes in front early doors and they never took their foot off the gas.
Cooper then an effort cleared off-the-line by Andy Milne before sending a header over the crossbar.
The second goal was coming and captain Darren Hanslip’s pass got the better of stand-in centre-half George Bissett. Robertson broke through again and coolly drove a low finish into the net.
Tadcaster responded by changing to a 5-3-2 system and putting Nick Thompson in defence. The move did shore things up for a period of time.
Cleethorpes captain Darren Hanslip controls the ball
Paddy Miller gestures during a frustrating night for Tadcaster
Not for long though as a mistake at the back allowed Cooper to put his name on the score-sheet as Morgan was wrong-footed.
Robertson and Cooper combined for the fourth goal. Robertson broke down the right-wing and crossed for his strike partner, who had an easy tap-in.
The introduction of Calum Ward did spark some life into Tadcaster in the second half.
The game did became a bit feisty and Cleethorpes finished with ten men after the wrong player was sent off.
Liam Dickens was involved in a collision with Ward which left the latter holding his face on the ground. Referee Luke Watson’s assistant called him over and was informed wrongly that Lawrence Heward was the offending player.
Heward made his exit, despite a string of protests.
The red card did not make a lot of difference. but Tadcaster were able to score a consolation as Josh Greening scored with a side-footed effort.
It was far too late for a dramatic comeback.
The two sides meet again in a Premier Division fixture tomorrow in Grimsby.
Tadcaster Albion: Morgan, Barrett, Miller, Ormsby, Bissett, Milne, Thompson (captain), Claisse, Clarkson (Ward 55), Brown (Gray 70), Greening.
Cleethorpes Town: Higton, Mascall, Kingston, Dickens, Heward, Hanslip (captain), Oglesby, Flett, Cooper, Robertson, Kennedy (D Grant 62). Sub unused: Barlow.
Referee: Luke Watson
Ref Rating: 8/10
Attendance: 305
Man of the match: Alex Flett (Cleethorpes Town)